The Year in Irrigation and What You Can Learn From It by Chris Speen of Twin Oaks Landscape

Transcription

1 The Year in Irrigation and What You Can Learn From It by Chris Speen of Twin Oaks Landscape There have been a great many irrigation events on the news in recent months, and while these stories might not be the most widely reported each of them holds important lessons that homeowners should take to heart. Irrigation is about more than keeping your lawn healthy and your garden in bloom, it s about keeping your property and everything it contains safe from harm. Improper irrigation can lead to foundation problems, flooding and water damage, three potentially devastating issues that can necessitate costly home repairs. Come with us as we break down the biggest news stories in irrigation and extract the lessons you will need to keep your home safe.

2 Irrigation in the News Combating the California Drought There have been many droughts throughout the history of California, with the latest beginning in 2011 and the one before that ending as recently as Twelve million trees have died over the course of this latest event. However, scientists think they may have found a way to combat its effects, and it all centers around irrigation. The concept involves blending wastewater with various chemicals and nutrients, allowing it to be tailored to the needs of specific crops. This process relies on optimized irrigation systems which can ensure the water reaches the correct plants. These systems must be localized and very carefully implemented. This teaches us that there may not be a catch-all solution for your irrigation needs. Don t base your irrigation system around convenience, but around what is right for your plants, your lawn and your home. Hire a professional to work with you to determine your specific irrigation requirements, and then join them in designing and implementing a system to fulfill them.

3 Fulfilling the Needs of Alberta Like California, Alberta s location can make proper irrigation a difficult prospect. There are many areas within the province, particularly in the South, which get a very limited amount of rain and atmospheric moisture. However, there are many farms and fields in Alberta, all of which have strict irrigational demands. Their solution was to design a complex series of interweaving irrigation systems spreading across 1.6 million acres of land. Rather than having many smaller systems throughout the province, Alberta chose to create one large irrigation system, a decision which makes the water used within it much easier to quantify. This teaches us that proper irrigation is possible in any climate if you use your resources effectively. Speak with a professional today to determine the best way to optimize your system to your specific environment.

4 Walmart Works to Conserve Water It s not just farmers and urban planners who are implementing innovative irrigation strategies. Major corporations have begun doing so as well. Recently Walmart took steps to institute passive irrigation systems in their garden centers, limiting their water usage by up to 99% through the usage of WaterPulse mats. Considering the size of the Walmart brand and the number of stores they have across the country the fact that they were formerly using 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of water a day is not much of a surprise. However, the company says they are now required to use only 400 gallons within the same span of time. This teaches us that we must irrigate not just thoroughly, but efficiently. Examining your process and looking for the right tool can help you preserve a great deal of water and save money without negatively impacting your home. Don t assume that because a solution works it is the only solution. Instead, take the time to look for the right answer, not the most immediate one. Irrigation at Home Drip Irrigation In recent years the importance of irrigating responsibly has become more and more clear. Drip irrigation has become an increasingly popular solution. Overirrigating your plants not only wastes water, it can damage or even kill the very crops you are attempting to nurture. Drip irrigation uses a variety of methods, including dripping and spraying, to release the minimal amount of water your plants need to thrive. Located beneath the ground, the system targets the roots of your plants, allowing the water to have maximum impact.

5 Drip irrigation uses far less water than hoses or even sprinkler systems, and it does it without asking you to sacrifice the health of your plants. The process is flexible, allowing you to add or remove plants without having to install a new system or even change it in any significant way. It can be customized to meet your specific needs, whether you re growing rows of vegetables, trees, shrubs or flowers in elevated beds. It sends water to your plants only when it is needed, it limits the potential impact of soil erosion and it keeps your lawn looking beautiful. If you re considering drip irrigation you owe it to yourself to hire a professional to install your new system the right way. Flood Irrigation Flood irrigation may seem like a strange process, one which appears to be the exact opposite of drip irrigation. However, if you live in the right climate flood irrigation may be an ideal option. It is especially popular in Phoenix, AZ, where flood irrigation has been used for decades. Unlike more complex methods, flood irrigation is an extremely cost effective method. It involves literally flooding one s yard and allowing the water to dissipate naturally. In Phoenix they have flood irrigation systems which optimize the process, releasing the right amount of water at the right times. The disadvantage is that all of your plants will be watered and there is no way to reliably control how much each will receive. Your only option would be to place plants which require less water farther from the flood s point of origin. The advantage, other than the cost, is that the water penetrates deep into the soil, allowing older plants or those with thicker roots the opportunity to be nourished. Flood irrigation can lead to soil erosion and other issues, but it is quick, affordable and predictable, so if you are interested be sure to contact a professional today to learn more.

6 Decision Support Systems Put simply, decision support systems are based around software that compiles data, aggregates it and solves problems. The more you put into the system the more you will get out. These programs are used in a wide range of industries to determine the right course of action for any number of pertinent quandaries, and they are just as useful for those with agricultural concerns. There is a great deal of competition for water resources, and agriculture is a huge consumer. As such, accuracy is key. Even with less measured usages of water, as with flood irrigation, quantities must be carefully measured and lines must be firmly drawn. Decision support systems can help you determine a path which will result in the least amount of water being wasted and your plants remaining healthy. This software may not be as useful for homeowners, though it could certainly benefit them as well, but if you have a large farm or greenhouse or a similar structure on your property then considering a decision support system is a wise idea. Many professional developers of irrigation systems already use such technology, so be sure to ask your local irrigation expert if they have access to software like this.

7 Remote Control With the Internet of Things gaining in momentum our world is becoming increasingly automated. It s no wonder that irrigation is as well. Many people don t irrigate the property properly for one simple reason: they do not feel that they have the time to do. Remote control irrigation takes care of that problem. It allows you to irrigate your lawn quickly, with nothing more than the press of a button. You can even control your irrigation systems using your mobile phone, or through WiFi. The advantages of such a system are obvious. WiFi enabled irrigation systems can be monitored and controlled from a huge range of locations, taking the hassle out of the process and allowing you the freedom to go about your day. If there is a downside to these systems it s that it does detach the property owner from the process somewhat. If there are issues it might take you a bit longer to notice them, and as such damage may be done more rapidly. However, if you hire a professional to install your system there should be little concern of over-watering, soil erosion or any of the other problems a poorly optimized irrigation plan can bring. Hiring a Specialist At the end of the day all of these systems have unique advantages and disadvantages, and choosing between them can be a difficult prospect. If you re unsure of which type of irrigation system is right for you, or which tools you should use to determine that information, contact an irrigation expert today. They can and will provide you with the knowledge and resources you will need to make an informed decision. When you re ready to move ahead they will be there with you, creating and implementing a system that will meet each and every one of your irrigation-related needs.

8 Irrigation in the Future Cutting Down on Waste Water usage, particularly for the agricultural circuit, is currently at an all-time high. Unfortunately, clean water is a limited resource, as the residents of California and Alberta know all too well. Right now twice the amount of water necessary is being used for agricultural concerns. However, many of the world s biggest users of water, including major corporations like Walmart, are beginning to take action to cut back on unnecessary usage. Systems like drip irrigation and tools like automation and decision support systems are making it easier to use water responsibly, and doing so has never been more important than it is right now. In the future we will certainly see a greater emphasis placed on efficient irrigation, and you can do your part by working with an expert to determine ways to lessen your personal impact without damaging your plants. Considering the Environmental Impact Proper irrigation is about more than water conservation, as important as that is. In 2013 PHD candidate Obbe Tuinenburg determined that an increase in irrigation shortly before and after monsoon season in his native country, India, was responsible for increased precipitation. He estimated that 40-60% of the water used for irrigation would promptly return to the Earth as rain. Though his report only concerned India, his findings can be taken in a much broader sense. The truth is that excess water being used during irrigation will eventually reenter the atmosphere and may very well increase the amount of rain a given region may receive. This serves to show the larger scale impact of irrigation. It can not only affect our plants and our homes down on the ground but the weather itself. We will need to consider factors like this much more carefully in the future.

9 Increasing Levels of Automation In a world where tight regulations will need to be placed on irrigation automation may well be the answer. The Internet of Things (a trend whereby a huge range of appliances and procedures will become increasingly connected to WiFi and mobile systems) will certainly affect the way irrigation is carried out in the future. Using resources like decision support systems we can mathematically calculate the right parameters for an irrigation system in any given application and then apply those guidelines to our final products. This is will do wonders for increasing efficiency and reducing waste. You can already have an irrigation system installed which can be controlled remotely through the usage of your phone or another WiFi-enabled device, and the popularity of these systems will almost certainly increase. By now you ve learned about many key issues in irrigation, the lessons they can teach you and how you can apply those lessons to your daily life. However, no matter how knowledgeable you become always remember that there are experts out there who design and construct irrigation systems for a living. If you want to have a fully optimized system that will keep your plants healthy, do minimal damage to the Earth and keep you from enduring unnecessary expenditures then speak to a professional today. They will work with you to create an irrigation system which will address every one of your needs. If you already have a system in place be sure to consider it carefully. Could your current system be better tailored to your environment? Are you spending more money than you should? Is your system using an appropriate amount of water? Are you satisfied with its construction and its impact? If you answered no, or even maybe, to any of these questions then contact a professional today to learn more.